Oldham

Oldham's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 220,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Oldham increased by 3.5%, from about 217,000 to 225,000.

The addition of about 7,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Oldham was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Oldham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Oldham increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the North West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 4,200 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 13% of people in Oldham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Oldham

The number of people in Oldham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 26,000 in 2001 to just over 43,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 19% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 3.8% to 6.2%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Oldham from the White ethnic groups decreased from just under 190,000 in 2001 to about 170,000 in 2011 (from 86% to 78%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 2,500 to about 4,100 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

About 2,800 people (0.6%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,200 in 2001 (1.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Oldham increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Oldham

The number of people in Oldham that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to just under 40,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 18% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 3.0% to 5.1%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Oldham that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 160,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 60%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 to just over 36,000 (from 8.9% to 16%).

About 12,000 people (6.5%) did not state their religion, down from about 14,000 in 2001 (5.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Oldham increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Oldham saw the North West's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) households in Oldham had no children, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 34%.

Across the region, only Trafford (from 61% to 58%) and Blackpool (from 66% to 65%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Oldham

The percentage of Oldham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.7%, while the percentage of Oldham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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